Planning for Healthy Urban Communities in Australia – The Healthy Places and Spaces Project

1. Planning for Healthy Urban Communities in Australia – The Healthy Places and Spaces Project

2. Outline • Current health status of Australians • Strategic planning and health • The Healthy Spaces and Places Project • Local planning and design for health • Challenges • Conclusion

3. Health of Australians • Epidemic of chronic diseases - cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, diabetes, cancer • Obesity rates doubled in Australia since 1985 • 18% of Australian adults obese (2002) - double the rate of 1989 • 13,000 deaths per year in Australia attributed to physical inactivity • Mental health disorders are prevalent and increasing -1 in 5 people in Australia are affected by a mental health problem in any 1 year

4. Australian suburban environments • Car oriented • Poor public transport and links to public transport • Concerns about safety • Poor public space • Poor access to fresh food

5. Travel patterns and health • 10 percent of all trips are less than one kilometre (a 10 minute walk) • 30 percent are less than three kilometres (Aust Bureau of Transport Economics, 2002) • There are substantial direct benefits to health and in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging people to walk or cycle rather than drive

6. Strategic planning for health outcomes • Integrated action • All levels of government, elected reps and community working together • Multi disciplinary, all built environment professionals • Vision and mission statements to local planning and implementation • Metro, regional and local level

8. Partnership Healthy Spaces and Places is a partnership between: • Australian Local Government Association • The Heart Foundation of Australia • Planning Institute of Australia This project has received funding assistance from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

9. Value of Partnership • Unique Partnership • Memorandum of Understanding underpins partnership • Leveraging knowledge, advocacy and networks • Stronger influence for change

10. Project design Four project stages: • Scoping – during 2007 • Consultation – workshops mid - late 2008 • Implementation – 08/09 • Evaluation – 2009/10

11. Healthy Spaces and Places project is about: • recognizing how everyday urban management decisions can influence people’s health and well-being • recognizing the complexity and cross-disciplinary/sectoral nature of the issues • raising awareness • setting a national policy agenda • supporting current State/local initiatives

12. What are we trying to achieve? • improved understanding amongst health and planning professionals of how the built environment influences active living • people engaging in regular physical activity • sense of belonging and social inclusion • sense of place • positive health impacts on future health burden • sustained economic well-being

13. Consultation outcomes • case studies of current practice, including critical analysis, visual illustrations, good and poor practice, successes, learnings and barriers • evidence based (linking planning principles with health outcomes), inspirational, challenging and a vision of good practice • information tailored to different audiences • Relevant to governments, the education sector, professional groups, industry peak bodies and the community.

14. Healthy Design Principles • Active transport • High quality design • Connectivity • Streets • Environments for all people • Mixed density • Mixed land use • Safety and surveillance • Social inclusion • Supporting infrastructure